December

Shustoke Reservoir has been very quiet, during the snow there was an increase in wildfowl but they soon dispersed when the weather improved. Over the Xmas holiday wildfowl numbers dropped to the lowest I have ever known, with no Pochard whatsoever!

These are sites I have visited locally in December:

Coton
I have paid a few visits checking the gull roost I have managed a single Yellow-legged Gull and a Woodcock.

Wishaw
Good numbers of common species with: c.200 Skylark, c.50 Meadow Pipit, c.25 Yellowhammer, c.30 Reed Bunting and a few Grey Partridge and unto 70 Golden Plover. The number of birds in the stubble fields is very impressive the counts only refer to birds seen perched up or in flight, there are probably significantly more feeding on the ground.

Ladywalk
All the usual suspects plus Barn Owl, Raven, Chiffchaff and Brambling but no sign of any Green Sandpiper on the river which is unusual.

Berkswell
The influx of Hawfinch we had in the autumn resulted in a few birds taking up temporary residence in a handful of sites in the region. One of the easiest to view was a group of upto five in the churchyard in Berkswell.

Hawfinch, Berkswell Churchyard

Swanhurst Park, Moseley
A 2nd winter Iceland Gull has been present most of the winter and is very photogenic and it was joined by a 3rd winter Caspian Gull.

Iceland Gull at Swanhurst Park.

All-in-all it has been a reasonably autumn in North Warwickshire with Richards Pipit, Lesser Yellowlegs, numerous Hawfinch, Cattle Egret and Firecrest.